$18 million expansion for Milwaukee’s Discovery World

Discovery World Science and Technology Center has announced a major expansion and renovation programme. Work on the $18 million extension will start this month. The official ground breaking is slated for Tuesday, October 10th at 10am.

The project has been designed by Milwaukee’s Eppstein Uhen Architects. Phase one will comprise a 10,000-square foot pavilion. This will be built on a lawn outside the north side of the current 120,000-square foot building. The new build will provide lunchroom and educational spaces for visiting school groups and for Discovery World’s summer camps. It will also provide exhibition space for large travelling shows and special events.

Phase two will double the museum’s current exhibition and programme space. One of the current theatres will be transformed into a new grand entrance and exhibit gallery. Extra space will also be created by opening up a back-of-house mezzanine to public use.

Two new exhibitions will be housed in the new space. One will include a 5,000-square foot public health and medical research exhibit to highlight careers in health care.

The first phase is expected to be completed by mid-2018. Work on the second phase, which is expected to begin this year, is slated to see completion by the end of 2018.

“We have formulated a vision for an exciting and transformational project that will help shape our organization’s future for the next 20 years and allow us to have a more significant impact on kids in our community,” said Joel Brennan, CEO and President of Discovery World.

He explained that the changes will allow the museum to cater for a “significantly larger” number of visitors and students each year. Additional revenue will be earned and the museum will be able to deepen its focus on providing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education.

“This investment is about our mission to improve educational outcomes in our community,” Brennan continued. “Our team will be able to deliver even more high-focus programs that immerse students in STEM programs for hours at a time and direct their energy toward real world applications and job skills.”

The expansion will be funded by private donations from individuals and foundations. The fundraising campaign is currently underway. The Reiman Family Foundation has provided the lead gift as a catalyst for the expansion.